How to fix a dud automatic center punch

[@bfhfhfhdj]

Thanks Rob, followed your instructions. Now works great. Thank you for the video, no Bla Bla Bla, no loud and irritating music. Simple clear and to the 'point'. Even simple things like these can take hours when you don't know how. Thanks again.

[@Xynudu]

Thanks for taking the time to send some feed back Keith. I'm pleased it got you going again. Cheers Rob

[@Ben_the_Codhunter]

What Keith said 3 years ago. Very direct and helpful video.

[@oo0Spyder0oo]

Yes, videos sans music are refreshing, too many have infuriating music in the background.

[@TheOtherBill]

Keld, Mr Pete made a video a while back showing how they work. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX_SoYR6i9elgM0

[@nfi2nfi2]

#its likely to be the smaller spring at the front is not bent enough to make the first pin off centre enough, as you push down the beveled edge on the first pin lines it up into the centre of the hammer (the one with hole though it) then it strikes. You can clean the face up won't hurt but likely to be the first spring not the second one you saw here.

[@rockstarimotski]

What a helper! thank you so much!

[@computerchemist]

This was one of the best things I have found on KZbin! Thank you for showing me how to bring my sad old punch back to life again!

[@fordmanfinis]

Thank you so much! I kept this useless punch for years thinking I was missing something! It worked!!!

[@meincotu]

Great and to the point (Literally). Mine is now 10 for 10 instead of 1 in 10. A little trick if you want it, is to mount the piston in your drill press with the end needing dressing pointed down. Leave the press off. Lay your oil stone on the table, bring the piston down to just touch the surface and move the stone back and forth a few times. This will keep the surface perpendicular to the sides.

[@Xynudu]

Good tip. Thanks for that. I will try it next time (they need a refresh every so often as the steel is not very hard). Cheers Rob

[@rustygear9370]

In the same style, you can use the drill press to make a new part from 5/16 (8mm) steel rod. I use it as a lathe, with an attached drill chuck pointing upward to some steel plate. Use a drill bit to align the bottom chuck with the top one, attach a small piece (like 1/2" or 12mm length) to the top chuck and use a 1/4" (3mm) bit in the bottom chuck. Drill the piece to correspondant depth and you are done 😀. Once you are done, you can finish it the way you said. The advantage of making such a piece out of steel instead of brass is that you can harden it to make it last longer.

[@ArcanePath360]

Thanks!! Just bought one off e-bay and it was hit and miss until it stopped working at all after I fiddled with it. I did what you said but it wasn't working so well (my stone is very fine) so I switched to 240 grit emery paper on a flat surface and rubbed it over it. In no time it made it flat and also a rough finish, to grip better. I suspect it was sliding off before against a shiny machined surface. It works every time now.

[@Xynudu]

The rougher finish is probably a good idea. It would help I think. Cheers Rob

[@ArcanePath360]

@@Xynudu I believe so. I also saw there was some oil inside it when I first opened, probably helping it slip into the hole prematurely, so I wiped it dry. So much better now, it hasn't slipped once. I don't know why your video isn't no1. Others are doing tutorials which are garbage, telling people to buy diamond files, polish the wrong part etc and wasting time with bad advice. You deserve all the credit for your solution

[@mattmilauskas5727]

worked like a charm, amazing. thank you sir.

[@Xynudu]

Great to hear!

[@jptrainor]

Worked perfectly.

[@John-gm8ty]

excellent, thank you.

[@Xynudu]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Moneymyke357]

Thank you, sir.

[@bustednuckles2]

Cool, I couldn't tell you how many of the cheap little buggers I have tossed out after taking them apart, oiling them and they still didn't work. The last one however, was a brand new Starrett about that size that worked exactly six times before it shit the bed. The spring at the pointy end self destructed. It wasn't cheap. Back to the Harbor Freight and General brands I went. Now I know how to fix the dang things. Thank you very much and I have subscribed to your channel, for other reasons.

[@ruthlesskustomz4264]

Thank you for sharing

[@Xynudu]

My pleasure

[@CliffsShed]

Nice one Rob, never could figure out why they start playing up! ATB Cliff.

[@criggie]

This fixed my cheap jaycar automatic punch. Brilliant!

[@deans67pala]

Thanks mate! Had my beer a little early, thought I'd clean up mine, and forgot how I took it apart haha

[@alexjohnston2401]

You are a god sir - took five minutes and mine is working perfectly now - many thanks

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Another helpful tip from down under. Thanks Rob.

[@brandonsalas8723]

Ruthles mate ive got a ton of these busted man garage i was about to. Spend up on a nice one

[@532bluepeter1]

Thank you so much and so mercifully brief.

[@stevebullers9643]

I would never have thought about polishing the end of the piston ...... and as if by magic, it now works!! :-)

[@patrickfielding3613]

Thanks.. just bought one.. didnt know how it worked.. took it apart and replaced the piston the wrong way round.. all fixed thanks to you :-)

[@rayfalcone6897]

as always sweet video,thanks for sharing Rob.......see you next video......

[@Tallslimchris]

That did not fix my center punch, try again

[@idontwantachannel3091]

I had one that wasn't very good from new ... and quickly deteriorated, so took it apart and squared up the thingy face as you did. I still didn't understand how it worked but it improved its action a lot. How well it worked still depended on which direction I applied lateral force (as well as the regular axial force). Roll on through the years (invention of the internet, launch of youtube, etc) and one day I found a video that showed how it worked! Big AHA moment / light bulb turned on. It only works because of the lateral force generated by the bent spring on the other thingy that strikes the pointy pin. This is the light spring accessed from the other end of the punch. I gave this spring an extra kink - works great now!

[@Xynudu]

That other spring has a bend in it so the trigger/striker pin meets the hammer piston face (which is poorly finished) at an angle. The bent spring in mine seems pretty OK. I suppose there could be defects in any of the internal parts, but mine looked well made except for the fix I show in the video. Thanks for the extra info, as it all helps to get the little jiggers working properly. Cheers Rob

[@idontwantachannel3091]

You're right - holding the thingy (!) "at an angle" is more accurate than what I said.

[@532bluepeter1]

Having watched this video I immediately went and did as you suggested and within a couple of minutes my decidedly moody automatic centre punch was restored to rude health so thank you very much indeed. That punch had been bugging me for ages.

[@ludditeneaderthal]

I used to just use a fine cut flat file to true mine up when it got uncooperative, and maybe smooth it a tad with an emory board I snagged from the Mrs, lol. After the divorce I was forced to cough up the dough for sandpaper

[@Xynudu]

Life's tough at times.

[@ludditeneaderthal]

xynudu into each life, some rain must fall, lol. I do miss the emory boards at times, however

[@Xynudu]

Ha Ha Ha

[@jimjuritsch7924]

helpful, thanks for posting. I had two non-working auto center punches, and now have two working ones.

[@ArcAiN6]

Thanks for this. I now have 3 working punches, where before i had 2 and one that was "fiddley" as all hell to get it to pop.

[@Xynudu]

All good.

[@theprideofafrica1186]

Thanks for the fix, well half a fix for mine. I also had to smooth the sides at the top of the piston that slips into the hammer cap. It had a minor mushroom shape that was snagging it up. Works fine now.

[@chriselliott726]

Brilliant. Worked 1st time!

[@xxvodanhxx]

At some point mine came apart when left with someone else, and I never knew how to put it back together correctly. Now I see its missing the piston completely, and would have liked to see the disassembly of the front to see whats in it and how its assembled in the front too, does it have the ball in this one?

[@Xynudu]

No.

[@seafurymike]

had the exact problem last weekend. thanks for fix. will implement this tonight.

[@ita-1245]

You’re a champ Rob, big thumbs up from me.

[@ourcalendar1139]

Excellent solution Rob. Fixed both of mine perfectly. Thanks

[@swartpeter5995]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@iancraig1951]

I indexed it by just printing the divisions on a sheet of a4 paper then stuck it down on a sheet of ply wood around 300mm in diameter and extended the lines out to the edge with a straight edge and biro..Then fitted the disc to the backend of the lathe spindle, fitted a pointer and that was it..The bigger the disc the more accurate is the manufacturing..

[@Xynudu]

Sounds good. I usually just glue the chart to a piece of cardboard (old beer carton etc). Try using a microscope instead of a pointer and you will be amazed how good/easy it is. Eliminates all alignment error. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnPPc31rh7yHic0 But you do need a laptop PC and a USB microscope ;) Cheers Rob

[@johnmadere]

Mine has left handed threads and wasn’t firing. Took to grinding it a bit and it works like a charm now. Still has left handed threads though. Thanks for posting!

[@Xynudu]

Maybe it's made for left handed people ;) Glad you got it fixed. Cheers Rob

[@TheHandyAndy]

Thank so much. I been wondering how to fix mine.

[@Xynudu]

You are welcome!

[@1jtolvey]

SOFT PUNCH FIX = REPLACE WITH CONCRETE NAIL .

[@alanmears517]

Thanks for the fix Rob! My auto center punch has been bugging me for almost a year with that problem!

[@chrismonk9491]

Strewth mate, that worked a treat!

[@lordcaptain73]

This worked really well, thanks for posting

[@Xynudu]

You're welcome!

[@ChrisB257]

I have 2 Eclipse auto punches - they have served well for years - only thing I did was regrind the point. Your fix on the import one was elegantly simple - nice. :)

[@keldsor]

Hi Rob ! I'll go over in my shop and take mine apart right away ... it works but I want to see HOW ... you should havetold a little about that. but OK ... a beer while finding out ... we've had a very warm and dry periode here in Denmark for the last 3 month ... one have to be aware of de-hydration, right ? Long to find out how it works - thx for sharing !

[@Xynudu]

Hi Keld, Yes, dehydration can be very bad for you. I take lot's of precautions (beer). Cheers Rob

[@RandomGuy0987]

Cheers

[@jahno7154]

G day me old sport thanks for your help.

[@Xynudu]

No problem 👍

[@cloudhop]

Good on ya cobber ! No American yak yak yak ...straight to it ..excellent ! Had this frustrating problem for years...many thanks.

[@Torsan1977]

Thanks! That made it work again.

[@Xynudu]

Glad it helped!

[@markinoz4795]

classic! southwark premiums all round

[@joneff9713]

Nup!... Coopers Paley for me.Haha

[@woutmoerman711]

Thanks Robbie! Good to know how to fix them. One thing, stop sighing at the start of each video. It sounds so tired...

[@MegaCountach]

Great stuff Rob... I just bought one of these last year and it fails every 3rd or 4th time.... I'll rip it apart and give it the treatment! Cheers, Doug

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice and simple.

[@femi32]

I went to Lowes and bought a Smith's-branded Arkansas Stone and mineral oil. I ran that metal piece across the oiled stone until it was smooth. This worked very well. Thank you.

[@Xynudu]

Thanks for sharing

[@slypig24]

Thanks, heaps. Thanks yo your video, I just fixed my Automatic Center Punch. Mine only worked twice from new. Now it's perfect. I also placed a micro drop of oil on the contact area after polishing.

[@Xynudu]

Great to hear. Oil is probably a good idea. Cheers Rob

[@stanwooddave9758]

Thanks for sharing. First thing to do, when I hit the shop tomorrow. Enjoy a cold one.

[@errolfoster1101]

Thank you I have had that punch for a few years and it never worked so I tried cleaning it up by putting it in a bench drill and polished it like you and then it had a 95% strike rate so I tried polishing the tape on the middle piece and ended up with a 100% strike rate and I am very happy with it so now it come out of the useless tools box

[@Xynudu]

Good to hear. The metal they use is fairly soft, so it may need doing again after a lot of use. It fixes them OK. Cheers Rob

[@astrazenica7783]

Make good firing pins for underground DIY gunsmiths

Another money saving tip, which is very worth while.,

[@gopsiaf]

Thank you, my friend. In 60 seconds I repaired my punch which was unserviceable for the last one year. Greetings from India 🙏

[@Xynudu]

Glad it helped.

[@mrexiges1]

Thank you for saving me a trip to the store.......good video with no stupid music...thanks

[@Xynudu]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@anthonymagnani4100]

Pull mine apart tomorrow and have a look now! Thx Rob.

[@dalegriggs5392]

Rob, Bought one of the cheapies from a box store and wouldn’t work from the get go. Saw your fix and went right out to the shop to inspect mine. Since I hadn’t used it because of poor performance I surmised the manufacturer had actually put a chamfer in the bore. I put it on the diamond plate and took it down flat. Now it works like a charm. Now I have two as I had purchased a decent one after the cheapie failed out of the box. I’m not one to return cheap items to the store. I figure if it works, fine, if not I relearn the old mantra from Joe Pie down Texas way, “Buy nice or buy twice!” Dale

[@Xynudu]

Good to hear Dale. I've seen forums where members have endlessly debated over how to fix these, but it's very simple as you found out. Cheers Rob

[@rayranger8249]

I was about to buy a new one after one weeks use, followed your instructions and works first time and better then it was new.

[@Xynudu]

Good to hear Ray. They also wear a bit over time and you may need to freshen it up again. Cheers Rob

[@iancraig1951]

G'day Rob--I used that wheel dividing program about a month ago---had to make a 52 toothed sprocket 5/8 pitch and it worked a treat.That program was a good tip thanks.E

[@Xynudu]

Hi Ian, Yes, it's dead accurate. The Java program is totally trustworthy. How did you index it ? The USB microscope I now use is fantastic. Perfect gears every time. Cheers Rob

[@XaltLures]

Now i can buy one! Thanks for posting sir!

[@rude252]

Thanks Rob! Mine was dead on arrival to.

[@Patriottoo2]

Just fixed mine. Thanks for the info!

[@ronyerke9250]

I've never opened one of those before. Thanks for the demonstration. ☺

[@GMSA59]

A 5yr old tool tip was much appreciated today, cheers

[@Xynudu]

Thanks for the feedback. Cheers Rob

[@rodbennett4790]

I have that same punch with the same problem. 5 minutes with some emery on the surface plate and it now works every time! Many thanks for the tip.

[@Xynudu]

Hi Rod. Glad it worked out. YT is great for sharing information. Cheers Rob

[@reidguhr5313]

Thanks for this video. I got a very cheap punch the other day and stopped working after a couple dozen punches and this fixed it right away

[@Xynudu]

Glad to hear it helped out Reid. Cheers Rob

[@wayneo7307]

Thank You Sir ! Easy Fix .

[@kpfalconi]

Brilliant! Worked like a charm. Thanks sir!

[@Xynudu]

You're welcome!

[@trollforge]

Good to know.

[@sheep1ewe]

Thank You, i will try this!

[@xSOLOArts]

Very nice!